Overcast at first, but prolonged sunny intervals later, a moderate south-south-westerly wind and temperatures hitting a warm 18 degrees C. A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull flew south during the morning seawatch that also featured two Manx Shearwaters, 45 Little Gulls, an Arctic Tern, a Bonxie and two Arctic Skuas. A Snow Bunting also flew south and six Fieldfare flew in off the sea.
Four Whooper Swans rested on the outer head and a Goosander was seen off South Dykes. Passerine migrant numbers ebb by the day, although one Yellow-browed Warbler remained at the Golf Course Willows and two Black Redstarts at the Lighthouse. Frustratingly, a Swift sp. showing features of Pallid flew south-east at RSPB Bempton Cliffs and, presumably the same individual, was then relocated at the Lighthouse; it didn’t linger and departed before the full suite of characters could clinch identification.
